The Horse | A New Breed of Bridle (Bitless)

Posted using ShareThis

Local farmers and horse owners in Iceland are concerned about their livestock and horses due to the health impact the ash cloud that is the result of the recent volcanic activity. Residents have been cautioned to stay inside their houses to avoid the ash plume, or to wear protective masks if there is a chance of being exposed to the ash. It is made up of tiny pieces of glassy sand and dust produced when explosive eruptions demolish solid rock. It causes irritation to the eyes, ears and throat and can cause repiratory damage.

Horse owners have little choice when it comes to protecting their animals, except to herd them away from the ash cloud in the event it travels their way. Veterinarians have cautioned that pregnant mares and young foals will be the most succeptible to the plume.

Here are some incredible photos posted on the Horse Grooming Supplies forum from a resident who is trying to get her own horses through the disaster. MyHorseChat hopes that this poster and other residents (and their animals) make it through this terrible occurence.

To learn more about the volcano, visit the National Geographic website or CNN.com.

If you are in the market for a new saddle, try Fine-Used-Saddles.com for used high-end and luxury saddles including Devoucoux, Butet, Antares, Delgrange (PJ Saddles), CWD, Hermes, and Luc Childeric. Some additional premium brands include Hennig, Schleese, Tad Coffin, Lauriche and Amerigo.

There are instructions on how to complete a wither tracing on the site, which you can email in along with your seat size, and saddles will be suggested for you to try that will best fit you and your horse.

To learn more about this website and the saddles that are currently listed, click on the picture below or visit Fine-Used-Saddles.com

Check out this website for great used saddles

Here are some video clips of today’s session. All the videos are from Group 1 today. Enjoy!

(The rest will be on Facebook here)

Here are a link to some of the videos I was able to catch, to give you an idea of how the exercises were ridden.

Book: Activate Your Horse’s Core

By: Drs Narelle C. Stubbs and Hilary M. Clayton

Summary: This is a step-by-step manual and DVD showing exercises that mobilize the joints and engage the muscles used to round and stabilize the horse’s neck, back and pelvis during athletic activities. These exercises will improve your horse’s posture, self-carriage and balance.  The exercises are performed from the ground and do not require sophisticated equestrian skills or special equipment.  [Excerpted from website]

Review: The actual book is a 32-page laminated, spiral-bound book that illustrates the exercises shown on the DVD. The exercises are very straightforward and are easy to follow. The DVD shows the exercise plus an explanation for each specific movement, but a knowledgeable horseperson could perform the exercises off the book alone provided they have an intermediate knowledge of horse anatomy.

I ordered the book because it was recommended for horses that are being rehabilitated from either surgery or coming off a long lay-up.  The goal of the exercises is to provide core strength through unmounted exercises without the undue stress of a rider. The DVD is also very easy to follow (once you wade through the technical terminology of the muscles, ligaments and skeletal structure) and could benefit horses from any discipline, whether it be hunters, dressage, eventers, reiners, etc.

The book/DVD combination tends to be more expensive through various online book retailers (Alibris.com, Amazon.com) so I ordered it directly through Sport Horse Publications, which only charged $5 shipping within the US. I ordered it in conjunction with another book by Dr. Clayton, and they arrived promptly and I had zero issues with customer service or shipping.

(Thanks for your patience!)

Check out the free online video feed from the 126th Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament ending today, running from October 28th-November 1st.

Click here to watch the feed

In every rider’s life, a little rain must fall. Inevitably we may find our horse injured and unable to perform the tasks asked of him. Many riders and owners are familiar with short term injuries and even some long ones. Yet when a horse owner is faced with a career-ending or even completely unrideable, they can be faced with some tough decisions.

Due to the recent problems in the economy, it makes decisions about a horse’s future even more difficult. People are now giving horses away, even sound ones, as they can no longer afford to pay for even the most minimal care.

For those that decide to keep their horses and try to get them through recovery and rehabilitation, it can be just as difficult as giving a horse away. Doubt and hope and uncertainty all go hand in hand, as weeks stretch into months, and even sometimes into years. Riders have remarked that it is the rollercoaster of pouring thousands of dollars and hours of time that is the hardest part. Even going to the barn becomes unpleasant, never knowing whether it will be a good or bad day.

The most important part of any major decisions is to put your welfare and that of your horse at the top of the list. Having horses means financial and time sacrifices, but when the burden becomes too great then decisions must be made.

We all try to do the best we can for our horses, and as compassionate people that is all we can do.

This is a great video from HorseGirlTV about the sport of reining, with pro-reiner John Irish.

Enjoy!

Find more videos like this on Barnmice